Football icon Bwire’s mother dies on the eve of his farewell

Mwanza. In a tragic turn of events, the mother of the late Alliance Sports Academy director, Mr James Bwire, has passed away.

This follows the death of her son, the football icon in Mwanza and Tanzania, who passed away last Saturday, January 25, 2025.

Speaking to The Citizen sister newspaper Mwananchi on Friday, January 31, 2025, the Alliance Academy Chairman, Mr Stephano Nyaitati, confirmed the death of Mr Bwire’s mother, Nchagwa Manga.

He revealed that the elderly woman passed away Friday morning while receiving treatment at Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital, just hours before the farewell ceremony for her son.

Mr Bwire had passed away on January 25 at 10 pm, while undergoing treatment at Bugando Hospital in Mwanza after a prolonged battle with a stroke-related condition.

"This (the mother of the late James Bwire) had been unwell for a long time and was undergoing treatment for heart complications," said Mr Nyaitati.

Despite the additional grief, Mr Nyaitati confirmed that the funeral arrangements for James Bwire would proceed as planned, with separate arrangements for his mother’s burial to follow.

"We are currently leaving Bugando with Bwire’s body, heading home for the farewell ceremony. After laying him to rest, we will make arrangements for his mother’s burial," said Mr Nyaitati.

Mr Bwire’s son, Mr Nelson Marwa, expressed shock at the sudden passing of his grandmother, revealing the family is struggling to cope with the loss.

However, he assured that the funeral plans for his father would go ahead as scheduled.

"This tragedy happened so suddenly. Besides her heart condition, she also had high blood pressure, which may have been aggravated by my father’s passing,” he said.

“As a family, we will continue with the farewell ceremony and burial of my father in Nyamwaga village before planning my grandmother’s burial," insisted Mr Marwa.

The farewell ceremony for James Bwire is currently underway at his home in Mahina, Mwanza.

His body is expected to be transported tomorrow to Nyamwaga Village in Tarime District, Mara Region, for burial.

In his lifetime, Mr Bwire was instrumental in nurturing football talent in Tanzania, with notable players emerging from his academy.

The players include, Israel Mwenda (Yanga), Aisha Masaka (Brighton & Hove Albion), and Aisha Mnunka (Simba Queens).

Other prominent names include Balama Mapinduzi (Mashujaa), Hans Masoud (KMC), Dickson Ambundo (Fountain Gate), and Enekia Kasonga (Mazatlán, Mexico).

Beyond football, the deceased was also a politician, serving as the Councilor for Mahina and Mayor of Mwanza City from 2015 to 2020.